Berkeley Parents Network: Christmas Music

Berkeley Parents Network

Christmas Music

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > The Arts, Entertainment, & Media > Christmas Music

Favorite album of Christmas carols?

November 2005

Does anyone have a favorite album of Christmas carols to recommend? I have several CDs of secular Christmas songs but realized last year that I don't have any with the traditional religious music. Thanks. Sarah

Don't have our holiday music out yet, but the cd I love best is ''December'' by George Winston. Gorgeous piano music, some secular, some religious. We listen to it every night of the month--no exaggeration--perfect for after kids are in bed or to help them unwind, too. can't wait for ''December''!

This is really cheesy to admit, but the Time Life classic Christmas CD set is terrific fun. There are a few I could live without, but the variety of voices and styles make it interesting. We originally ordered off an infomercial (!!) but I think Time-Life has a website. Merry merry! anonymous caroler

Hi Sarah - I can hardly believe I'm about to say this, but I was actually really pleasantly surprised by Clay Aiken's (American Idol) Christmas CD last year. It's called ''Merry Christmas With Love'' and about 1/2 the songs are not secular. He has a beautiful voice and it's not overblown. a surprise Clay Aiken fan

I particularly like the two Christmas CDs done by the San Francisco Girls Chorus (website: http://www.sfgirlschorus.org/tickets/cd_library.html). The chorus has a gorgeous sound, and the songs they recorded aren't ''Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer'' type things, but traditional Christmas carols and Christmas religious music. Enjoy! SFGC fan

My all-time favorite Christmas carols came from a long-defunct department store, but of those that are still available (and are on CD): Johnny Mathis Christmas!!! His rendition of Oh Holy Night has sent chills up my spine since I first heard it as a kid. Joan Baez also has a christmas carol CD with some truly haunting songs. Beyond that, I'd have to say that the old-time crooner collections (which you can even get at places like Costco) are pretty good. Johnny Mathis & Joan Baez are best heard start to finish (or maybe this is because I have such strong childhood memories), but the crooner collections can go on random. janet

Chanticleer's ''Sing We Christmas''--Gorgeous a capella music from an SF group (the only full-time professional choir in the U.S., supposedly!). All 5-star ratings on Amazon, and justifiably so. music lover

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